Most of my projects involve woodworking, metal fabrication or 3D printing. Occasionally I need to program an Arduino or Raspberry Pi to do some task that is specific to my project. The problem is, I've never made it a priority to learn how to code.
Thi...

I made a liquor cabinet out of an old safe. I used an Arduino and a stepper motor to "crack" the safe combination using a keypad rather than turning the dial by hand. Cheers!
Arduino Sketch: http://wp.me/a4UCGL-od
Parts (Amazon affiliate):
Arduino - ...

I wanted a compact but practical trailer to pull behind my scooter as well as our minivan. I decided on a $239 Harbor Freight/Northern Tool kit trailer as the base for my customizations. I packed a lot of features into this tiny trailer (40" x 48")
1. ...

I've always wanted to be able to haul larger materials on my scooter but was limited to what could fit on the back seat. I bought a TIG welder so I thought a good first project would be to a custom "quick release" hitch for the back of my Honda PCX125....

I built a shop and video studio in the warehouse we bought last summer. Here's a quick tour to show you how I've put it together.
My goal for the space was to remove as much "friction" as possible in the video making process. With two cameras always s...

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.
The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEM...

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.
The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEM...

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.
The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEM...

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.
The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEM...

Most of our income comes from online courses and YouTube, but I occasionally dabble in side hustles because I like the entrepreneurial process. Something about creating value from thin air really appeals to me.
Usually I can satisfy that itch by flippi...

How to build a DIY CNC machine completely from scratch. I designed the machine in Fusion 360 from the ground up and had a local water jet cut the parts.
The frame is built from 1/2" aluminum plate. Fully supported linear rails reduce the flex and NEM...

Lauren and I decided to continue living with Lauren's Mom until our second baby is a little older. In the meantime we need to turn one bedroom into two.
I built a temporary partition wall (complete with lighting and HVAC) for about $350. What makes thi...

Lauren and I bought a 9 unit warehouse building as an investment 2 months ago. Here's a quick update about the work I've been doing there:
-Spray foam roof repair.
-Updated all of the electric meters and panels.
-Passed all inspections for the fire dama...

Tired of reaching behind a hot grill (BBQ) to turn off the propane tank? I used the flexible driveshaft from a weed eater and a few 3D printed parts to extend the knob to the front of the grill.
Learn Fusion 360 For Hobbyists and Woodworkers:
$30 OFF C...

Last month we purchased a 12,000 sq. ft., 9 unit warehouse. Our plan is to pay it off in the next 7 years and retire early. This is a tour around the building and an update on the work being done there.
You can find the details about the purchase pric...

We just purchased a 12,000 square foot warehouse as an investment. This is how we expect it will change our early retirement and travel plans.
Details:
Purchase price - $480,000
Down payment - $100,000
Repairs so far - $30,000
Monthly income - $7200 (2...

How to control your Raspberry Pi with an Amazon Echo (Alexa). Home automation can be cheap using a relay module instead of buying expensive "smart home" switches and outlets.
Materials used in this project (amazon affiliate links):
Echo Dot - http://am...

If I'm going to finish our enclosed trailer to camper conversion anytime soon, I need a dedicated space to work on it. I made a deal with my friend to share his warehouse. Unfortunately (and fortunately) I found a much better spot just days after settin...

On our trip through Europe I noticed that the door hardware seemed much higher quality and more secure than in the United States. Here are a few of my observations about the subject...
*Thanks John Mansell for the locks to locks joke. He made that comm...

For the last 6 weeks we've been backpacking Europe with our 1 year old. At the beginning of our trip Lauren's mom rented a 15 meter "Penichette" from Locaboat to motor through the Canal Du Midi.
We spent 6 days visiting the small towns of Homps, Trebe...

As part of the new mobile workshop design, I need to get my miter saw and planer on wheels. I wanted to have flip up extension wings that could support longer work, but not get in the way while in storage.
I'm very happy with the finished product. I'v...

Huge thanks to Bob Clagett for letting us interview him! In this "Maker Spotlight" we discuss the joy of solving everyday problems, work-life balance, and life as a full time YouTuber.
Bob's Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/iliketomakestuff
Video Cli...

We're converting a 24 enclosed cargo trailer to be half camper, half mobile workshop. Since we're going to be powering the RV with solar panels, we wanted the best insulation possible to cut down on battery capacity needs.
The results were fantastic. ...

Want a powder coated Yeti cup, but don't want to pay $65 dollars? Get a Harbor Freight powder coating gun, a couple Ozark stainless steel cups and do it yourself instead!
We got the powder coating system on sale for $50 and bought a few cups from Wal-m...

I wanted to model a working spring in Fusion 360 that you can compress and expand, but I couldn't find any solutions online. I found a workaround that I haven't seen anywhere else.
Basically you split the spring in half, then apply revolute joints to ea...

If you're a complete beginner and you want to learn Autodesk Fusion 360, this is the course for you! I've designed these tutorials the way I learn best- with start to finish example projects.
In "Fusion 360 For Hobbyists and Woodworkers" we model five...

We're converting an enclosed cargo trailer so that the front half is an RV and the back half is a mobile workshop We're going to travel the country when it's finished helping subscribers with their DIY projects!
This week I finished framing the dividi...

Our new Dodge 3500 Dually was a great deal, but it didn't come with power locks or windows. Getting Hudson in and out of a car without power locks is a chore so I decided to buy some universal power door actuators and install them myself. Total cost was...

I have plans for what I hope will be an extremely strong and reliable desktop CNC to cut wood and aluminum parts. I designed the DIY CNC in Fusion 360 with a budget of under $1000 dollars.
LEARN FUSION 360 - For Hobbyist and Woodworkers:
$30 Off Coupon...

We sold our RV, so it was time to find a truck to pull our 24' cargo trailer camper conversion. We weren't married to any particular make or model, only a good deal and I think we found it!
Our new truck is a 2005 Dodge 3500 Dually with only 133k miles...

I don't know why the thought occurred to me, but I had to know if my car engine would run on a 3D printed serpentine belt. I modeled my serpentine belt in Fusion 360 and then printed it out on it's side with flexible filament.
The end result was surpri...

I'm a little late to the 3D printing game, but I finally get it. For $200 , the Monoprice Mini Select is a no brainier for anyone who's curious about 3D printing. It's an extremely capable machine with a small footprint. Best of all it comes pre-assemb...

We look at property for sale in Palmares, Costa Rica. The first property was way overpriced at $40k per 1/4 acre, but the second wasn't bad. We really want something a little higher elevation which will cost less and be a little cooler.
Sign up for mon...

Over several days we drive around the central valley in Costa Rica to narrow down where we want to buy property. Our plan is to build an off grid retreat somewhere in the mountains. Palmares was our favorite city and landscape, second to San Ramon.
S...

We take a car ride up to the Poas Volcano in Costa Rica and stop for a free viewing of the waterfall. Definitely a recommended stop if you're in the San Jose region!
Sign up for monthly income, expenses, and net worth reports!
http://newsletter.mikean...

We spend the morning in search of hiking trails in Escazu/San Antonio, Costa Rica. Eventually we make our way to Pico Blanco with a gorgeous view of the valley.
If you're ever traveling and don't know if you'll have cell service or wifi, check out the...

After arriving in Costa Rica, it took about 2 hours to get through customs, immigration, and pick up our rental car. Just in time to meet our realtors at a McDonald's about 10 minutes away from the hotel.
We discussed how much land we want (3-10 acres) ...

We're on our way to Costa Rica to finish up our residency paperwork and start looking at land for sale. But first we stop overnight in Fort Lauderdale to break up the travel time.
Everything Explained Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82SD3Ts0u9M...

Almost a year after giving birth abroad in Costa Rica, Hudson finally received his second passport. He is now officially a dual citizen of both the United States and Costa Rica!
Our Birth Abroad Series:
https://youtu.be/uJhDon4wjmg?list=PLC0ux1ndnxRh7...

We've tried way too many vlogging cameras. The RX100 V was the closest thing to a perfect camera, but it lacked an external microphone jack and that stabilization just wasn't good enough to justify $1000 dollars.
So we're back to our trusty Canon 70D. ...

A virtual tour of our upcoming cargo trailer to tiny house/RV/camper conversion. Included is a full kitchen, Murphy bed with dining table built in, fold out shower, and expanding bathroom wall!
I designed the model in Fusion 360, a free program I think ...

We spent an afternoon baby proofing our living room for Hudson. We used two 192" Regalo fences with gates to block off the living room along with furniture straps for the TV and table.
The Long Fence/Gate We Used:
http://amzn.to/2itb4pY
The Furniture...

Our first priority in the cargo trailer camper conversion is to make it easy to transition between the trailer, home, and hotels. I found "luggage shelves" that I think will eliminate the need to unpack everywhere we go.
The Dust Collector:
http://amz...

This week I move all the tools in the Ultimate Mobile Workshop into a temporary garage shop and strip the interior down to bare metal.
It seems crazy to take such a huge step backwards but I think this will save a lot of time in the long run.
Lark Uni...

I use cardboard boxes and painters plastic to get a feel for the full size floor plan of the new cargo trailer camper conversion (we need a better name - leave your ideas in the comments).
I also used a meter to test how much water is used in a typica...

Episode 2 of "Makers on the Move" is NOW LIVE! For our second project, we built a MONSTER sewing/quilting table based on plans our host bought 10 years ago!
Click here to watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awn2jjyDnUo
Subscribe to the new...

Episode 1 of Makers on the Move is now live! For our first project we build a reverse loft bed.
Click here to watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srM-is2fdQk
Subscribe to the new channel:
http://makersonthemove.tv
Sign up for monthly inco...